The enclosed garden sits underneath the London Eye in Jubilee Gardens

Following its inauguration last year (which I went to several times and enjoyed), I was thrilled to hear London Wonderground was returning to the Southbank for a second year. The Udderbelly Festival and London Wonderground stand in an enclosed garden in Jubilee Gardens full of bars, food stalls, seating and two venues of entertainment. While the Udderbelly is mostly a comedy festival, London Wonderground is rather more unusual, featuring a mix of cabaret, circus and other sideshows and funfair rides, including the Starflyer (£7.50). As well as entertainment, there are several bars, including a Pimm’s stall, an Aperol Spritz bar. Outside the Wonderground venue is a dodgem-themed bar for alfresco drinking, while outside are lots of benchs and deckchairs to drink under the sunshine. I would highly recommend the bars at Wonderground (weather permitting!) for being a lot better value than most drinking establishments along the Southbank. Although I am yet to see one of the Wonderground shows, I have seen a show at the Udderbelly and enjoyed the atmosphere drinking in the gardens.

From July 24, following the end of Udderbelly, the funfair, sideshows, bandstand and a maze will return until the end of September 2013.

*** COMPETITION ALERT – To win tickets to Meow Meow – the sexy, funny cabaret show at London Wonderground in May/June 2014, click here.***

• London Wonderground runs at Jubilee Gardens until 29 September. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For details of shows and tickets, visit the London Wonderground website.

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For a guide to this summer’s London festivals, read Guide to music festivals and open-air concerts in London this summer

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